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May a shower filter release fragrance or vitamin C into the water in Germany?

3 November 2026ComplyMatrix Research
No — not for fragrance. Treatment is limited to a closed list of purposes, adding non-treatment substances is prohibited, and a treatment substance may not impair odour or taste. Vitamin C is only possible if it is on the UBA list and serves one of those purposes.

May a shower filter release fragrance or vitamin C into the water in Germany?

Short answer

No, not for fragrance. Three provisions close the route: the purposes of treatment are a closed list, adding substances that are not treatment agents is prohibited, and a treatment agent may not affect odour or taste.

Basis

Treatment is only permitted for four listed purposes — fragrance is not one of them TrinkwV § 18

„Eine Aufbereitung … dürfen nur zu den folgenden Aufbereitungszwecken erfolgen: 1. … 2. … 3. … 4. zur Desinfektion …“

English: removal of substances and particles, removal of solids in the installation, adjustment of physicochemical composition, disinfection. Nothing else.

Substances other than treatment agents must not be added to drinking water TrinkwV § 19(2)

„Andere Stoffe als Aufbereitungsstoffe dürfen dem Rohwasser und dem Trinkwasser nicht zugesetzt werden.“

Only agents on the UBA list may be used TrinkwV § 19(3)

„… nur solche Aufbereitungsstoffe eingesetzt … werden, die in der Liste zulässiger Aufbereitungsstoffe … nach § 20 enthalten sind.“

A listed agent must not impair colour, odour or taste TrinkwV § 20(4)

„… 3. die Färbung, den Geruch oder den Geschmack des Trinkwassers nicht beeinträchtigt …“

What to verify

Any material certificate (KTW-BWGL, W 270) certifies the material, not the release. If the product is marketed with antimicrobial claims, the Biocidal Products Regulation applies in addition.

Official source

Photo: Denise Chan / Unsplash

Informational content, not legal advice. The official text prevails. German provisions are quoted verbatim; English glosses are for orientation only.

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